This poem was written obviously by a clever person who figured out that all the basic sound units of the language could be made into a poem. Click on the link above to read a precise explanation.
Or in more modern Japanese and poetic English:
Almost 1200 years ago…
These days one can find a range of commercial items that use the poem as a decoration form. On pottery…
On a glossy mouse pad…
On a furoshiki…
On a stamp set…
On an advertising brow-cloth…
A well-known restaurant chain has also chosen the first line of the poem as its logo…
屋上 おくじょう okujō = “on top of” “shop” = a flat roof you can walk on
and
屋根 やね yane = “shop” “root” = the wooden structure on top
Therefore roof tiles, or かわらkawara, are found on a やね yane and おくじょうokujō are usually made of solid concrete, so you can walk on them. Almost all schools in Japan have おくじょう okujō. Roof tiles are therefore always on a やね yane.
This is what a (better) Japanese lunch looks like.
Each and every dish is separated in its presentation and contents.
If the food is to go into the stomach, it first has to pass two eyes…
bowl ちゃわん chawan dish さら sara
A typical Japanese dinner in a more formal (and expensive) restaurant.
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
Lunch sets
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
Breakfast sets
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan dish さら sara
Here are some photos of good quality tableware that would be pleasing to the eye of any guest. Different styles are represented.
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
A more expensive dinner set box.
Most Japanese families would have stacks of this kind of stylish pottery, just in case visitors call in, and all this pottery would have to be hand-washed after the meal.
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
pottery style
modern ceramics
bowl ちゃわん chawan
dish さら sara
This dish would be valuable because of its exquisite glace.
Lami Japan 
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